CSS Backdrop Filter Generator

Create frosted-glass effects with CSS backdrop-filter.

Blur: 8pxOpacity: 80%Saturate: 100%CSS Length: 188 chars

Presets

Blur8px

Brightness100%

Contrast100%

Saturate100%

Grayscale0%

Sepia0%

Invert0%

Panel opacity80%

Frosted Glass Panel

backdrop-filter preview

CSS

.glass {
  backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.80);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
  border-radius: 12px;
}

CSS backdrop-filter

backdrop-filter applies graphical effects to the area behind an element, not the element itself. It is perfect for frosted-glass UI panels, modal overlays, and navigation bars. Always add -webkit-backdrop-filter for Safari support. The element must have a semi-transparent background; otherwise there is nothing to blur through.

Built and maintained by Meet Shah · Last updated 19 July 2026

What this tool is used for

Producing a frosted-glass panel over a background image.
Tuning blur and saturation against a live preview.
Getting a translucent header that stays readable over content.
Comparing backdrop-filter against a plain translucent background.
Building an overlay that keeps some context visible behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is backdrop-filter different from filter?: `filter` processes the element and its contents; `backdrop-filter` processes everything painted BEHIND it and leaves the element's own text sharp. That difference is the whole frosted-glass effect — blurring with `filter` would blur the label you are trying to make readable.
Why does my blur do nothing?: Almost always because the element's background is fully opaque, so there is nothing showing through to blur. It needs a semi-transparent background — `rgba(255,255,255,0.3)` or similar. An opaque element with a backdrop-filter is a correct rule with no visible effect.
Do I still need the -webkit- prefix?: Yes, for Safari, which shipped it prefixed and still requires `-webkit-backdrop-filter` alongside the standard property. It is one of the few prefixes still genuinely load-bearing in 2026, and the generated CSS emits both so a Safari user does not silently get a flat panel.
Is it expensive to render?: More than most properties, yes. The browser has to rasterise everything behind the element and re-blur it whenever that content moves, so a backdrop-filter over a scrolling region repaints continuously. It is fine on a fixed navbar or a modal and costly on many simultaneous panels.
How do I keep text readable through the glass?: By not relying on the blur alone. Blurring reduces detail but preserves average brightness, so pale text over a blurred pale photo stays illegible. Add a semi-opaque tint in the same direction you need — darker behind light text — and check the result with a contrast checker rather than by eye.

Common errors and gotchas

Relying on it without a fallback, since support and performance vary.
Forgetting the element needs a translucent background for the filter to be visible at all.
Using it on a large area, which is expensive to composite and can drop frames.
Assuming text over it is readable, when contrast varies with whatever scrolls behind.
Stacking it with other filters, where the order changes the result significantly.